Meeting the Xiongnu

The group waited for two days before riding again as they waited for their guide who was also their messenger, Shadow, to guide them to the group of Xiongnu that were still holding Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi captive.

Once Shadow returned they began to travel again while Shadow was resting on Yun's shoulder taking in the breeze while Yun was holding the reigns of the horses.

They were right now infront of the last city under the Han Empire Pingcheng of the Yanwen Commandery when Yun sighs thinking that they would have been faster with Thunder while petting Shadow when she notices Rin and Lin playing with Shadow's wings as Rin showed Lin Shadow's plummage on the inside since Lin was thinking that Shadow must have some feathers of a different color instead of only black but she was soon disappointed when she found out that Shadow's feathers were all black.

Shadow wasn't angry with Rin nor Lin since she was older than both of them together when suddenly Cao Tai asks, "How can your eagle still be alive?"

"Shadow is a pet I received from my Godfather when she was still in her egg. She hatched the moment I dripped some blood on her egg. She is connected to me and won't die until I seize to exist. The same can be said about Thunder. He is older than Shadow by some years I think," says Yun trying to remember when Shadow looked at him.

"Right, you must be definitely younger than Thunder," says Yun thinking that Shadow would attack him for saying that she was older than the old mule.

"Anyway, Shadow is still in her development as she will evolve every hundred years going by what my Godfather told me. The same goes for Thunder," says Yun revealing something unbelievable to the youth while Dian Wei and Zhang He weren't surprised by that.

They saw how spears and swords shattered by clashing against Thunder's hide while the horse was just running and stomping the enemy down as if nothing ever happened. Shadow on the other hand was a mystery for the two since they never saw Shadow enter the battlefield and was mostly used as a messenger bird.

"It is said that Shadow could grow as big as a mountain and horns would grow out of her skull with which she can kill her enemies without using her peak or talons," says Yun informing them of what he had once read in Shura's library trying to find out more of Thunder's and Shadow's species.

They rested in Pingcheng for the day as they prepared for what was coming next since it was new territory for them all. Yun tried to get a map of behind the border so they wouldn't get lost once they cross it but it was without much success.

They now had to rely on Shadow for guidance and a safe travel as they moved forward on an uneven path which made the carriage jump over a slop every third time they drove over one.

This didn't only made the adults nervous but also the children who found it funny at the beginning but now it was a point of concern. Yun and the others weren't wearing their robes but their armor already with their weapons sheathed.

Dian Wei and Zhang He were beside the twins making sure they wouldn't fail in their duty again as they failed their father. They traveled for two weeks when suddenly an arrow comes flying at the carriage aiming directly at Yun who didn't move until the last moment.

He moved his right hand and caught the arrow before his Qi spread over the area revealing a small platoon of Xiongnu and he shouts while infusing Qi into his words.

"I HAVE COME IN PEACE. BUT IF YOU DON'T WANT PEACE I CAN ALSO GIVE YOU WAR!" shouts Yun making the air tremble from the force behind his words while Fang and Lin found it cool seeing their grandfather perform such a thing.

They didn't respond while Yun was tracking them using his Qi seeing that they were trying to surround them making Yun sigh before he grabs two knives from his belt and throws them at different directions hitting his marks.

Now he could only feel one of the Xiongnu approaching them carefully trying not to get killed by Yun who was patiently waiting for the Xiongnu to emerge from behind the bushes.

He was holding his hands up while dropping his ax on the ground showing that he wasn't going to be hostile when he says in broken Chinese, "We await you. We escort you to tribe leader."

"What about the other people laying in wait? Should I kill them or will they reveal themselves as well," says Yun coldly as he throws the knives into the air were they stood still aiming directly at two Xiongnu hiding from his sight.

"They don't harm you," says the Xiongnu as he tries to defuse the situation when Yun takes more knives from his belt and they begin to float in the air pointing at the rest of the Xiongnu that are hidden out of sight.

"Tell them to come out or they will die," says Yun making the knives move around in the air showing his control over the knives telling the Xiongnu that he isn't bluffing.

The Xiongnu said something to the others and they showed themselves holding their hands up when the Xiongnu says, "We die your people die as well."

"My people?" asks Yun coldly as the Xiongnu nods.

"The two strangers that come weeks ago. They your people," says the Xiongnu as Yun looks at him now even colder as the knives ended right before the throats of every Xiongnu making them stay still hoping that the knives wouldn't move a single inch further.

"If something happened to the two of them nothing will stop me from taking all of you out," says Yun as he makes a gesture with his hand making the knives return to him.

They landed on his palm and he put them back in place before saying, "Lead the way to your leader but be warned. If you lead us into a trap everyone will die before they even know it."

The Xiongnus didn't need to understand Yun's words since his Qi spoke for him instilling fear into them as they lead the way for the group.

They saw that there were other men inside the carriage ready to slaughter them as well with two of them being slightly older but the Aura they were giving off told enough to the Xiongnu not to mess with them.

They younger ones seemed less intimidating until their eyes fell on Yang who was indifferent seeing them not even as human more like feeling pity for them if they stood in his way.

They led the group for three days when they arrived at a big camp which seemed like a small village just that there were tents everywhere instead of houses with children playing around watched by their mothers.

Men were also there but it didn't seem like a big settlement to everyone making the other believe that the Xiongnu must have taken them to a smaller settlement while Yun knew it better.

The Xiongnu he was visiting after all are the Mongols that live on the plain. They normally life like Nomads having only the necessary things to survive in a small settlement of twenty but not more than fifty people since they need to be able to move at any moment if their are at risk of being attacked.

They would be in the future a force to be reckoned with since the man leading them would call himself 'The Wrath of God', Genghis Khan.

Yun could feel the mistrustful eyes of the Mongols on him and the carriage while they group of men brought them to the biggest tent in the settlement.

"We there," says the Xiongnu as he points to the big tent for Yun who looks at the group behind him.

"You stay in the carriage if something happens you flee from here. I will find my own way back," says Yun to the group as he looks at Yang and Rin before looking at Dian Wei and Zhang He who only could nod since Yun entrusted them with Lin's and Fang's lives.

Yun leaves the carriage and Shadow follows him as she lands on his shoulder as Yun approaches the tent. The Xiongnu saw what just happened and Yun could hear whispers between the adults.

"What are they talking about?" asks Yun the Xiongnu that guided him there

"The bird is a good omen to our people," says the Xiongnu not knowing the word for eagle in Chinese.

"Still they are suspicious of me," says Yun as he followed the Xiongnu.

"Normal, you were suspicious of us too, when you first met us and still are," says the Xiongnu to Yun back who only smirk.

"You have a point there. It is quite hard to forget our common past after all," says Yun since the Xiongnu and the Han people were at war or better said skirmishes for centuries.

The Xiongnu do it to gain supplies and slaves while the Han defend against their skirmishes instead of helping the Xiongnu so they don't attack their people.

"Inside is the Tribe Leader. I inform him of arrival," says the Xiongnu leaving Yun at the entrance of the tent while he went in to inform his tribe leader.

He informed his leader of what happened when they encountered Yun and that Yun might be more dangerous than they might believe which their leader took into account before sending for Yun.

"So you are the famous 'God of War', Zhao Yun," says the man sitting on the ground or better said on a carpet.

Yun was a bit surprised that the person before him could speak Chinese fluently not like his subordinate.

"And you are?" asks Yun curiously but also cautiously as the Xiongnu gestures to him to sit down across of him on another carpet.

"I am the Tribe Leader, Gerel Tuguldur. I am the son of the Han Princess Yangdi," says Gerel Tuguldur presenting himself while Yun sat down across of him.

"You know why I am here?" asks Yun as Gerel Tuguldur nods.

"Yes, your two 'strategists' told me of you wanting to strike an alliance," says Gerel Tuguldur as he looks at Yun trying to assess him.

Yun on the other hand was scanning the inside of the tent seeing that the former princess was most likely the old woman sitting in the corner watching the children while the wives were cooking at the moment.

"But you must take me for a fool to just simply trust your words," says Gerel Tuguldur seriously at Yun who turned his gaze back on him.

Gerel could see Yun's eyes clearly when he hears him say, "I don't really need this alliance to win this war against Cao Cao but it would help me out a bit if Cao Cao had to focus some of his attention to the north as well."

Yun smirked as he continues with, "As you know I am the 'God of War'. Once I place a step on the battlefield nothing will be left behind. Your people once found it put back when they attacked Zhan many years ago."

"Right now I need an alliance so I won't suffered too many casualties in this war against Cao Cao since victory will be declared the moment Cao Cao starts his attack," says Yun knowing that he wouldn't hold back as he did in the previous wars he participated in.

"This time I will burn my name into history making everyone remember my name and Legacy for all times. I am only giving your a chance to be part of it etching your name in it as well as many others," says Yun as his eyes spoke volumes which Gerel could read.

"Still I need more than just your word," says Gerel not trusting Yun at all.

"Fine, how about this," says Yun as he scans the room or better said the children noticing the lack of a female making him flinch for a moment.

"My heir will marry a Xiongnu from this Tribe. Their descendant would be the next Clan Head," says Yun seriously as Gerel looks at him not convinced with that.

"And who guarantees me that you won't kill her when you have what you wanted from us," says Gerel seriously back not trusting Yun at all.

"I would never kill an innocent person less my own daughter-in-law or better said, granddaughter-in-law. But before I agree to it I would need to speak with her parents to see their personalities," says Yun seriously making Gerel smirk in anger.

"So you want to interrogate my people," says Gerel a bit angry with Yun right now.

"No, I need to be sure that I don't invite a black sheep into my family that could lead my family to its downfall once I am gone," says Yun seriously as he looks at him showing his conviction.

"You might not know it but once married my children are bond to their partners and have no second wife or concubine until the death of their partner. I will make sure nothing happens to that child as I will raise her as my own child beside my heir," says Yun seriously as Gerel was now thinking hard over it.

"I need time to think about it. How about you get comfortable with the settlement in the meantime while I call for a gathering to talk with my people over it," says Gerel sending Yun away since he needed time for himself to think about the proposal Yun gave him.

Yun left the tent and returned to the carriage finding it guarded by Dian Wei and Zhang He who see him.

"How did it go?" asks Dian Wei curiously as Yun only lifts his shoulders for a moment before letting them fall again.

"We will need to find out soon but for now we will make camp at the edge of the settlement," says Yun when he sees two familiar faces peak out of the carriage.

"I see that you two are alright," says Yun at Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi who rubbed their neck.

"It is all thanks to you, My Lord," say Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi at the same time while Yun smiles at them before they move to the edge of the settlement and erect their camp there under the watchful eyes of the Xiongnu.